Peters Lectures Flashcards
How is specificty of signalling achieved in the endocrine system?
- chemically distinct hormones
- specific receptors for each hormone
- distinct distribution of receptors across target cells
What is the difference between the glands in the endocrine and exocrine systems?
endocrine glands are ductless
What are the 4 chemical types of homrone?
modified amino acids; steroids; peptides; proteins
What are the features of hormone control?
act a low concentration over large distances to activate specific receptors with high potency to integrate organ function
How is hormone action terminated?
by enzyme-mediated metabolic inactivation in the liver or at sites of action
How are amine hormones stored and released?
pre-synthesised, stored in vesicles. when ligand binds to cell receptor, calcium enters the cell and mediates exocytosis
How are peptide and protein hormones stored and released?
pre-synthesised usually from a longer precursor, stored in vesicles, released in response to stimuli by calcium-deoendent exocytosis
What enzymes convert the precursor protein to the mature hormone?
convertases during intracellular transport
What is the difference between steroid synthesis and release compared to that of amines and proteins?
steroids are synthesised and secreted upon demand, are not presynthesised and stored in vesicles
What effect does stimuli have on the synthesis of steroids?
stimuli increase:
- cellular uptake and availability of cholesterol
- rate of conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone (rate limiting step)
What are the functions of carrier proteins?
to increase amount of hormone tranported in the blood; provise a reservoir of hormone and extend the half-life of the hormone in the circulation
What are two important general carrier proteins?
albumin; transthyretin
Why does free concentration of hormone not rise abruptly?
surges in hormone secretion are buffered by biding to carriers-they mop up the extra hormone
What type of hormone can corss the capillary wall to activate receptors in target tissues?
free hormone
What is the main determinant of plasma concentration?
rate of secretion
What factors contraol secretion?
negative feedback; neuroendocrine (eg stress); diurnal rhythm (rate fluctuates as a function of time)
What does tropic mean in relation to hormones?
a hromone that acts upon a nother endocrine gland to resulgate its secretion of hormone
Aside from secretion, what other factor contributes to plasma concentration?
rate of elimination
What are the 3 types of hormone receptor?
GPCR; receptor kinases; nuclear receptors
What are the classes of nuclear receptor?
class 1; class 2 and hybrid class
What hormone activates class 1?
steroid hormones
What do class 1 recetpros do in absence and presence of activating ligand?
in absence- located in the cytoplasm bound to inhibitor heat shock proteins, when activated, move to the nucleus
What type of hormone activates class 2 nuclear receptors?
lipids
Where are class 2 receptors found?
in the nucleus
What hormones act of hybrid class of receptors?
thyroid hormones